Thermometer case



Dec. 17, 1929. c. s. J. RUSSELL THERMOMETER CASE Filed May 4. 1928 s j. j

ZM-4. l

Patented Dec. 1.7, 1929 r UNITED sTfArEs CLAUDE s. J. RUSSELL, F WATinnfrowiv,` NEW YORK, Assis-Non 'ro EALCKNEY INSTRU- MEET coRPoRAToN, 0E WATERTOWN, NEW YORK, E ooRroRerroN or NEW YORK THERMOMETER CASE Appncation mea May 4, 192s. Y seran No. 275,086.

This invention relates to pocket thermometer cases, particularly of the type wherein a single tubular body is arranged for housing two clinical thermometers, either of which may be inserted and withdrawn Without disturbing or contacting with the otherv thermometer.

The primary object of this invention is to provide novel and Simple means for dividing l0 the tubular body longitudinally into two similar compartments or pockets, the said means comprising a light flat strip of metal having a breadth equal to the inside diameter of the tube and being self-retaining when inserted therein, the said strip comprising spring metal and having its ends folded upon its opposite sides for providing novel and effective tension members that grip and hold the thermometers in the pockets. The said members being narrower than the body of the strip and being expanded or bowed laterally and being arranged to exert their tension when the thermometers are inserted and said members are flattened against said body. A further object is to provide a head for supporting the folded top end of said strip, said head being' telescopically received in the mouth of said tube and having lateral sockets or recesses that register with said pockets. And a further object is to provide a closure for the bottom end of the tubular body, the inner end of said closure engaging the lower end of the strip for rendering the pockets noncommunieating. y

The various features and parts of the invention will be understood from the detailed description which follows, and by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure l is a top end view of the complete 40 case. Fig. 2 is a broken elevational view of the same, vshowing two thermometers separated by a three-ply partition. Fig. 3 is a transverse section, taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a central longitudinal section taken' on line 4-4 of Fig. 3, the thermometers being removed and the tensioning members being expanded, also showing the complete separation of the twin pockets. Fig. 5 is a transverse section, taken on line 5--5 of Fig. `6. Fig. 6,i s a central longitudinal section taken ed externally for attaching the usual telel scoping cap 3, and the bottom end of said body being threaded internally to receive thek threaded portion of a closure 4. The cap 3 lireferably extends a considerable distance above the corresponding end of body 2, to protect the projectingV heads of the thermometers, as shown in Fig. 2. The interior of the body 2 is preferably divided centrally on the line of its axis by a partition 5, to provide similar oval pockets as 6 and 7' to receive two thermometers as 8 and 8. The partition 5 vcomprises a strip of relatively thin spring metal preferably German silver, aluminum, or like untarnishable metal having a breadthequal to the inner diameter of the tube 2 and being self-retaining when inserted therein. The top end of the partition is preferably permanently embedded in a head 9, which snugly fits into the top end of tube 2, as shown in Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6, the said head being formed with similar oppositely facing recesses or sockets 9 that register with the pockets 6 and .7. rlhe head 9 may be made of metal, rubber, or other suitable material that is not liable to chafe or otherwise disfigure ory injure the thermometers. rlhe thermometers 8-8, are preferably held in the pockets 6 and -7 by independent tension means, which in the present case, come prises integral end portions 5 and 5a of the body or strip 5, the said end portions being folded upon the opposite sides of the body and being narrowed sutliciently to enable them to be expanded or bowed laterally from the opposite sides of the body, as shown in Figs. 4 and 8. The tension members or tongues 5-5a when Aflattened are substantially 'the length of the body .5, their free ends frictionally engaging saidbody, and.. when is sufficient to safely hold the thermometers from accidental shifting orV escapingV lfrom the pockets 6 and 7 The curvature of the tongues is soV slight` and their resistance is such as to entirely obviate all danger of breaking or otherwise injuring or destroying the delicate and extremely fragilefbulbs of the thermometers when the latter are either applied to or 'removed from theY case. It willV be understood from-the foregoing description and the draw-ing that the relatively weak or slight tensionof the tongues 5-5ai's enabled toy effectively hold the'thermometers dueto therelatiyelyv great length of. their bearing;

when flattened, asV shown inFi'gs. 2: andV 9. This feature isv highly important, for the reason that a uniform and adiequatetension` is exerted throughout substantially the whole length of the tonguesand tends when taken with the relatively sharp curvature ofthe inner walls of the tube 2 to prevent any cant ing or lateral shifting of the thermometers, whichmight ca-usethe bulbsto contact with saidwalls. The tongues {3f-5a when allowed to, expand by the withdrawalof the thermometers, are incapable of exerting enough tension or force againstthe'tips of, the bulbsk to injure saiddelicate parts: By this'construction and arrangement of Atheltension'ing mem bers, the thermometers may be literally thrust into the pockets, withoutdanger of destroying thebulbs, and the case may be more or less roughly handled, or even dropped, without incurring any damage to the thermometers.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is-u l. In a holder for two thermometers, the combination with a tubular casing, of a partition for dividing'the casing longitudinally into compartments for separately'4 housing' the thermometers, said partition comprising a thin flat spring metal body having a breadth equal tothe diameter of the casing and'v being self-ret'aini ng when inserted there#` in, the.l endsof said bodyl beingv folded to wards' its opposite sides and beingizbowed out; wardlytowards theV oppositeV inner walls of the casingi to provide? independent tension membersadapted to exert their tension to hold the: thermometers when the latter are inserted? and said members` are: flexedtowards the body. v Y j 2l; In a holder` for aplurality ofthermometers, thev combination withy a tubular" cas-ing, of. ai partition separating saidl casing into compartmentshaving on'eopen end toreceive the thermometers, said; partition comprising a strip of spring metal having a breadth substantially equal to the inner diameter of the casing and being` self-retaining when inserted therein, the ends of said metal being folded upon the opposite sides of the strip and being narrowed sufficiently to enable-saidends to bebenttofprovide relatively long outwardlyl curved resilient tongues adapted to be forced inwardly againsttheflatsides of the strip by the. insertion 1 ofthe thermometers for holding the latter from shifting in" or escapingI from said compartments.

8L In a thermometer holder, the combination wit-ha tubular casing open at both ends, of a partition dividing said casing into two compartments adapted` to; receive;- aipai-r of thermometers, a head partially'ciosingf the,l topv end of saidk casing and supporting the corresponding end of said partition, said head having sockets: that registerl with saidA compartments, `the bottom end, of saidcasingi being closed by a member that engages-ther lower vend .of thepartition for renderingsaid compartments noncommunicating,v the said partition comprising a relativelyV thin flat resilientv body and having its end portionsE reduced and folded upon its opposite sides and the said end portions being bowed outwardly towards-the adjacent walls ofthe cas* ingvand exerting their tension for holding' thethermometers when the latterk are insertel ed between said endportionsand the ysaid adjacent. walls.

4.. As a new article of manufactureapocket thermometer casing comprising a barrel. adapted to contain twothermometers, a plug for. closing the mouth of thebarrel andpro-v vided with apertures for inserting the there. mometers, a single memberI secured in said plug andheld centrally in thebarrel to separate the thermometers, said` single member havingk spring portions engaging the thermometers.

5. As. a new article of manufacture av pocket thermometer casing comprisingI a barrel adapted to contain two thermometers; a plug forclosingthe mouth of the bar-'rely and provided with apertures for' inserting the thermometers, a single member securedi in. said plugand held centrallyrin.` the barrel toY separate the thermometers, said singlemember having' opp'ositely disposed integralspringA portions' engaging they thermometers;

6'. Incombination` with fountain peni type casing for'holding `pocket thermometers, of. a; thermometer. separating and"A holdingf member therefor comprising an aperturedplugffr closing the barrel of the casing and'ia` single blade carried? by` said plug` and provided with integral oppositelyl disposed' springportions adaptedl t'o yieldingly engage: the thermometers 7;' Acholderfor a1 pairv of thermometerssilrgf cluding a casing,v and a partition-v fordiv-ijdjf ingI the casing'into' sepa-ratel compartments for the respective thermometers including a spring member, the ends of Which member are bent over the same in opposite directions to lie on opposite sides of the body of the member, said ends of the member having portions extending outwardly from the body ofl the member to provide independent tensioning means to hold the thermometers under tension.`

8. A casing for a pair of thermometers including a barrel, a member disposed across the barrel to divide the llatter into a pair of compartments for receiving the respective thermometers, said member having spring portions on its opposite sides to engage the respective thermometers and to force same outwardly toward the inner circumference of the barrel, and means to hold the member in position.

9. A casing for a pair of thermometers including a barrel, a member disposed across the barrel to divide the latter into a pair 0f compartments for receiving the respectlve thermometers, said member having spring tongues on its opposite sides to engage the respective thermometers and to force same outwardly toward the inner circumference of the barrel, and means to hold the member in position.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

CLAUDE S. J. RUSSELL. 

